Apparatus for sorting cylindrical objects

ABSTRACT

AN APPARATUS FOR GAUGING THE DIAMETER OF CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS BEING MOVED FROM A SUPPLY SOURCE TO A PLURALITY OF RECEIVING STATIONS AND SORTING THE OBJECTS ACCORDING TO SIZE. A PAIR OF ROTATABLY MOUNTED SPACED DISCS PRESENTING PAIRED SLOTS SEQUENTIALLY TO THE SUPPLY AND RECEIVING STATIONS HAVE MOUNTED FOR ROTATION WITH THEM A GAUGING MEANS POSITIONED IN RELATION TO EACH PAIR OF THE SLOTS FOR RETAINING OBJECTS LESS THAN A PRESELECTED DIAMETER IN THE SLOTS BEYOND ONE STATION TO DISCHARGE THEM AT ANOTHER STATION. THE GAUGING MEANS FOR EACH PAIR OF SLOTS ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY ADJUSTABLE.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Burnes's Carl Dick Nashville, Tenn. [21] Appl. No. 854,229 [22] Filed Aug. 29. 1969 [45] Patented June 28, 1971 [73] Assignee E. l. du Pont de Nemours and Company Wilmington, Del.

[54] APPARATUS FOR SORTING CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS 3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] [3.5. CI 1. 209/73, 209/74, 209/88 [51] Int. Cl B07b 13/04 [50] Field of Search .v 209/94, 96,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,364,187 12/1944 Birdsall v. 209/104X 2,502,906 4/1950 Waters .4 209/82 2,985,008 5/1961 Renard 209/74X 3,488,994 1/1970 Messervey et a1. l. 209/74X Primary Examiner-Allen N. Knowles Attorney-Howard P West, Jr.

PATENTED JUNZB I971 3; 587 .850

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INVENTOR BURNESS CARL DICK Q BY- M w a/ZA ATTORNEY PATENTEUJUHZWH 3587.850

sum 2 or 3 INVENTOR BURNESS CARL DICK BY m4 ATTORNEY mimsnmslsn 358M350 SHEET 3 OF 3 INVENTOR Egg BURNESS CARL DICK I BY ATTORNEY APPARATUS FOR SORTING CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to sorting apparatus and more particularly to the sorting of cylindrical objects used as the supports or cores for yarn packages.

In the manufacture of continuous, synthetic filaments, the filaments are wound on a core to build a package of yarn. The package is driven by contact with a drive roll and, for reasons of economy, two packages may be driven at each windup position associated with the drive roll. When such is the case and the two cores have different diameters, the package being formed on the smaller one will not be under as much tension and pressure at startup as it would be otherwise and core-yarn sloughing becomes a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an apparatus for segregating cores which comprises a supply chute for feeding cores to a rotating large-flanged spool or drum that includes two spaced interconnected discs each of which contains a plurality of open-ended gauge slots around its periphery. The gauge slots are in a paired relationship from one disc to the other. Gauge;7cp9969pl62pt Gauge means, adjacent the gauge slots, either bar or allow entrance of the cores to the slots, in accordance with their size as the drum rotates and carries the cores away from the supply station towards a receiving station. Cores which are barred from entry into a gauge slot drop, with the continued rotation of the drum, into a first receiving tray while those that are in the slot pass by the first tray and drop into a second receiving tray. In a preferred embodiment, positive ejection means is provided to insure that cores at the entrance of the slots are received at the first station. In a further preferred embodiment, a gauge-adjusting tie means is provided that permits all gauging positions to be adjusted the same amount at the same'time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation of the apparatus employed in the practice of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic front elevation view of apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side elevation view of the drum shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial isometric view of the drum of FIG. 1 showing the gauge-adjusting means;

FIG. 5 is a schematic side elevation view showing some essential elements and preferred modifications of the apparatus; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic front elevation view illustrating preferred elements of the gauge-adjusting means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, supply chute 2 is fed with cores 4, from a suitable source and the core rolls down the chute towards gauge slot 5 in disc 6. Core 4 becomes positioned in gauge slot 5 as the drum rotates on shaft 16 in the direction indicated by the arrow. Core 4 is gauged, as it is supported by gauge block 10, at gauge point 8. A portion of gauge block is removed along a chord to provide flat surface ll. Flat surface l 1 functions as a stop point to prevent core 4, when completely in gauge slot 5, from rolling into receiving tray 18. Cores having a diameter greater than that set to pass gauge point 8 remain at the mouth of gauge slot 5 and as the drum rotates roll out of gauge slot 5 into receiving tray 18. Cores having too small a diameter for contact with gauge point 8 pass completely into gauge slot 5 and are carried past receiving tray 18. As the drum continues to rotate, these small diameter cores roll out of the gauge slot into tray 20.

FIG. 2 shows a pair of spring-loaded plungers 2S and 25' mounted in holders 27 and 27 attached to plates 24, 24. The plungers are depressed by contact with a cam surface, not

shown, to the position shown by the dotted lines at B and B. In the depressed position, the plungers enter the open ends of core 4 as it rests against the periphery of disc 6 when at the lower end of supply chute 2. After the drum rotates about 45, the plungers ride off the cam surface and the core is lowered towards the gauge elements. Discs 6 and 6' and plates 24 and 24' are combined by four connector rods 30 (only three being shown) into an assembly that rotates as a unit on shaft 16. A friction drive, comprising a roll coated with a long wearing, synthetic rubber, not shown, engages the peripheral surface of plate 24 to provide the power for rotation of the assembly. Gauge point 8 is mounted in adjuster bar 26 which pivots on tie rod 28, there being four adjuster bars and four tie rods (only two being shown). Also shown, are cams 32 and 32 which are keyed to shaft 16 in a fixed, stationary position.

In FIG. 3 is shown additional detail of actuator means associated with cam 32. Actuator arm 36 is provided with cam follower 38 and pivots on pin 40. Cam follower 38 rotates on pin 42 and is kept in contact with the cam by spring 44. Actuator arm 36 is curved in a fashion that allows it to pass over core 4 when the core has completely entered gauge slot 5, but will move the core away from the mouth of the slot, should it be lodged there, as the gauge slot approaches receiving tray 18. Actuator arm 36, in conjunction with gauge block 10, receives core 4 when it is lowered by the withdrawal of plunger 25. Rotation of the drum and riding of cam follower 38 on cam 32 moves actuator arm 36 so as to allow its curved end to move away from gauge block 10 and, thus, core 4 approaches gauge point 8. As the distance of separation between the gauge discs and the actuator arm increases beyond the diameter of the core, the core is at or very near to the gauge point and either settles there or passes on into the gauge slot. If core 4 should become lodged in the mouth of gauge slot 5, the continued cam-controlled movement causes actuator arm 36 to move toward the core and force it away from the gauge point just prior to receiving tray 18.

FIG. 4 shows adjuster bar 26 provided with roller 46. Adjuster bar 26 pivots on tie rod 28 to allow the gauge gap to change. The width of the gauge gap is controlled by the position of roller 46 on cone 48. The position of cone 48 relative to roller 46 is controlled by moving the cone with respect to the drum by turning adjusting knob 22 on threaded section 23, the latter two elements being shown in FIG. 2. A portion of cone 48 is removed to provide planar face 50. After gauge slot 5 passes by receiving tray 18, roller 46 comes into contact with planar surface 50 and causes gauge point 8 to move upward and away from its gauging position to provide any desirable clearance for a core passing from gauge slot 5 into receiving tray 20.

FIG. 5 shows elements of the apparatus that are involved as cores 4 roll down supply chute 2 and are gauged as they are transported to receiving trays 18 and 20. As gate arm 52 rides on plunger holder 27 and pivots on pin 54 in gate mount 56, stop bar 58 moves upward and away from the core path allowing the forward most core to move into pickup position. At the same time, stop bar 60 moves downward and prevents the core that is next in line from moving forward until the relative motion of the stop bars is reversed when the gate arm rides off of plunger holder 27 and drops to the position shown by the dotted line at C. Rotation of the drum brings plunger 25 into contact with the surface of cam 62 which depresses the plunger causing it to cooperate (with plunger 25) in the pickup of the core. With continuing rotation of the drum, the core hangs suspended by the depressed plunger adjacent to a gauge slot and the moving end of actuator arm 36 moves into position to support the core when it is released by the plungers as they ride off the cam surface. As the core is supported on the actuator arm, it rests against gauge block 10. Movement of the end of the actuator arm away from the gauge block and out of the core path into slot 5 brings the core towards gauge point 8. If the core passes gauge point 8, it will remain in gauge slot 5 until it rolls toward receiving tray 20 as indicated by its position at the dotted line at D. If it does not pass gauge point 8 and is not lodged at the slot mouth, it rolls into receiving tray 18. Lodged cores are pushed from the slot by the cam controlled action of the actuator arm.

FIGS. 5 and 6 Show another embodiment using a modified adjuster bar and cone. Adjuster bar 64 is provided with roller 46 which rotates on pin 66 and two attachment pins 68 and 70 for springs 72 and 74 that hold roller 46 in contact with the cammed surface of cone 76. A portion of the face of cone 76 is machined away to provide curved surface 78. The contour of curved surface 78 allows gauge point 8 to move out of the path ofany cores that are to be deposited in receiving tray 20.

As will be apparent, the roller of an actuator arm will not contact surface 78 until after any cores which did not pass the gauge point of that actuator arm have moved away from the gauge point towards receiving tray 18. Cone 76 is prevented from rotational movement about shaft I6 by key 80 that is fastened to the cone, with screw 84 and retaining washer 86 and passes through a slot in the shaft. Key 80 is provided with slot 82 so that its position can be changed when screw 84 is loosened.

FIG. 6 shows cone 76 mounted on shaft 16. Key 80, afi'ixed to cone 76, passes through slot 88 in such a manner as to prevent rotational movement of cone 76 about shaft 16, but to allow axial movement. The shaft is bored along its axis from its threaded end to slot 88 to provide a passageway for adjusting rod 90. Shaft 16 is provided with spring 92 which is compressed between disc 6 and the small end of cone 76. Turning adjusting knob 22 on threads 23 so as to move the adjusting knob towards the drum causes the base 91 of the chamber in knob 22 to contact rod 90 which moves against key 80 and forces cone 76 to compress spring 92 by the axial movement of the cone. Turning the adjustment knob in the opposite direction, allows the axial movement to be reversed. The axial movement of the cone allows equal adjustment of the gauging position of all of the gauge points simultaneously.

In practicing the process of the present invention whereby cores, bobbins, tubes and the like are segregated into two lots, it will generally be desirable to operate the process so that the number of cores or the like in each lot is approximately the same. The cores are stocked to the supply chute and are fed by gravity to the gauging apparatus. Each core, in turn, is picked up and deposited at the gauge slots by a pair of cam-actuated plungers. As the cores are transported to a receiving station they are gauged and the gauged cores segregated into largediameter cores and small-diameter cores as they are deposited into separate trays at the receiving station. If it is desirable to keep the number of large-diameter cores approximately equal to the number of small-diameter cores. the gauge gap is adjusted as required so that about the same number of cores is deposited in each of the two trays. The gauging cone allows the gauge gap at each gauge slot to be adjusted the same amount at the same time, and, while the drum is rotating. It will be apparent that this preferred embodiment significantly increases the efficiency ofthe segregation process.

Due to changes in atmospheric conditions or in vendor shipmerits, the nominal outside diameter of the core, or the like, will vary to an extent that adjustment of the gauge gap is not infrequent. In addition, adjustment is readily made should it be desirable to give the cores a second pass through the apparatus for further segregation.

The cores are removed from the receiving trays as required and core segregation is essentially a continuous operation. However, circumstances may arise where the segregated cores are not removed as required and they will begin to accumulate in the receiving trays. To prevent excessive accumulation, the trays will preferably be equipped with microswitches so that when accumulating cores back up in the trays to a preselected point, the switch will turn offthe motor that drives the drum.

The number of gauge slots, along with cooperating elements, provided in the drum may be varied as desired and generally will be determined by the revolutions per minute of the drum and the rate of segregation desired.

Many kinds of cylindrical objects, such as cores, bobbins, tubes and the like may be segregated by the practice of this intention. A cylindrical object having steps or tapers may also be segregated provided it contains a centrally disposed section of relatively constant diameter and the diameter of one end section is the same as that of the other end section The centrally disposed section and the end section need not have the same diameter, but the centers of the sections must be at the axis of the cylindrical object. If the plunger is not suitable for pickup of the cylindrical object, it will need to be replaced by means suitable for cooperating action with the ends of the obect.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, apparatus is constructed for segregating paper cores about 1 1 inches (27.94 centimeters) in length and having an inside diameter of about 2.015 inches (5.l2 centimeters). The nominal outside diameter of the cores is 2.32 inches (5.91 centimeters) and the variation between the diameter of the cores is such that the difference between any two cores does not exceed 0.030 inches (0.076 centimeters). One portion of the cores having diameter differences of less than 0.03 inches (0.076 centimeters) is segregated into two groups of about the same number of cores and the cores in each group have diameter differences less than 0.015 inches (0.038 centimeters). The portion that is not segregated is identified as Item A. The large-diameter, segregated cores are identified as Item B and the small-diameter cores as Item C.

In a controlled test, pairs of cores of each item are used at the same windup position and continuous filament yarn wound on them to form packages. During the test period, the percent of the packages of each item that resulted in core-yarn sloughing is found to be: for Item A 4 percent, for Item B 1 percent and for Item C 1 percent.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for gauging and sorting cylindrical objects according to their diameters as they are being advanced from a supply source to a plurality of stations receiving the objects according to their diametral size, said apparatus comprising: a frame; a pair of spaced connected parallel driven discs rotatably mounted in said frame between said source and said stations, each of said discs having a plurality of outwardly facing open slots, said slots being arranged in aligned pairs and sized to accept and support said objects; and means mounted for rotation with said discs and positioned with relation to each pair of said slots for admitting and retaining objects having less than a predetermined diameter in the paired slots beyond one of said stations and discharging them at another of said stations.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a movable linkage mechanism attached to the discs and coupled to the gauge means for simultaneously adjusting said gauge means for each of said pair of slots.

3. An apparatus for gauging and sorting cylindrical yarn package supports according to the size of their outside diameters as they are being advanced from a source of supply to a discharge point for discharging to one or another of two receiving stations according to diametral size said apparatus comprising: a frame; a pair of spaced parallel discs rotatably mounted in said frame between said source and said stations, each disc having a plurality of outwardly open slots, each slot in each disc being in alignment with another slot of the other disc; means for rotating said discs together thereby sequentially advancing said slots repeatedly past said source and said stations, said slots being sized to accept said supports; means mounted for rotation with said discs and positioned inward with relation to the open end of each pair of slots for admitting supports having less than a predetermined diameter in a pair of said slots and retaining them beyond one of said stations then allowing them to discharge at the other station, supports having a diameter greater than said predetermined diameter remaining outward in said slots from said admitting and retaining means as said slots are rotated from said source toward said stations and being discharged into the other of said stations, and a mechanical linkage mounted between the discs and connected to said gauging means for simultaneously adjusting said gauging means associated with each pair of slots. 

